Ezra 10 38

Ezra 10:38 kjv

And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,

Ezra 10:38 nkjv

Bani, Binnui, Shimei,

Ezra 10:38 niv

From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei,

Ezra 10:38 esv

Of the sons of Binnui: Shimei,

Ezra 10:38 nlt

From the family of Binnui : Shimei,

Ezra 10 verses

Ezra 10 38 Meaning

Ezra 10:38 lists five individuals—Binnui, Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, and Adaiah—who were among those found to have taken foreign wives in violation of God's covenant and who agreed to confess their sin and separate from their non-Israelite spouses, demonstrating their participation in the nation's spiritual purification. This verse marks specific men involved in the widespread intermarriage problem that threatened the integrity of the returned exiles and their commitment to the Lord.

Ezra 10 38 Context

Ezra 10:38 is part of a lengthy list (verses 18-44) enumerating the men among the returned exiles who had committed the grave sin of intermarriage with foreign women, violating the Mosaic Law and threatening the purity of the Israelite community. Following a corporate confession led by Ezra, and a solemn assembly where the people resolved to put away their foreign wives, a judicial process was initiated. This verse specifically names five individuals, underscoring the personal accountability and the comprehensive nature of the reform carried out in response to this widespread transgression. The chapter highlights the spiritual crisis, the deep conviction and grief it caused, and the subsequent acts of repentance and obedience crucial for the community's restoration and distinct identity as God's people.

Ezra 10 38 Word analysis

• Binnui (בִּנּוּי - Binnūy): A proper name. Its root banah means "to build" or "to construct." In this context, Binnui's name appearing signifies his role in the rebuilding of the covenant relationship, a rebuilding based on separation rather than literal construction. His inclusion indicates a personal identification with the collective repentance.
• Shimei (שִׁמְעִי - Shimʿî): A proper name. The root shama means "to hear" or "to listen." His being named here reflects that he "heard" the call to repentance and submitted to the divine command, highlighting the act of obedient listening within the community.
• Shelemiah (שְׁלֶמְיָה - Shelemyāh): A proper name. Derived from shalem ("whole," "complete," "peace") and "Yah" (short for Yahweh, the Lord). It means "Yahweh has repaid," or "Yahweh is my peace/completeness." His inclusion reflects a theological truth: repentance leads to peace with God and restoration by His grace.
• Nathan (נָתָן - Nāthān): A proper name. Derived from nathan meaning "to give." His presence in this list represents someone who "gave" up his forbidden marriage in obedience, symbolizing the act of giving over one's own desires for the sake of God's command.
• Adaiah (עֲדָיָה - ʿAḏāyāh): A proper name. Derived from 'adah ("to adorn," "to pass over") and "Yah." It means "Yahweh has adorned" or "Yahweh has passed over." His mention points to God's continued work of adorning His people through cleansing and forgiveness, even after their failure.
• Word-Group Analysis:
  • "Binnui, Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,": This list of proper nouns serves as a public record of individual compliance. The very act of naming these men indicates that the reform was not superficial or generalized but deeply personal and thoroughly executed. It shows accountability and confirms that specific individuals underwent the process of confession and separation, thereby strengthening the corporate commitment to God's law. The fact that the list is given without further comment after each name emphasizes the sheer volume of cases and the collective obedience of these men, making them part of the reformed community's foundational record.

Ezra 10 38 Bonus section

The act of meticulously listing individuals, as seen in Ezra 10:38 and throughout the chapter's final verses, underscores the administrative and judicial diligence of Ezra's reform. These lists often served a legal and historical purpose in ancient societies, validating transactions, agreements, and public actions. In Ezra, it functions as proof that the community fulfilled its covenant pledge made before the Lord. Such detailed accounting reinforces the idea that spiritual revival often manifests in tangible, practical, and sometimes uncomfortable, obedience. It contrasts sharply with the pre-exilic history of Israel where such sins were often tolerated, highlighting a new resolve post-exile to uphold the law strictly, for the identity and survival of God's covenant people.

Ezra 10 38 Commentary

Ezra 10:38, though merely a list of five names, provides critical insight into the rigorous spiritual purification that followed the confession of sin among the returned exiles. Each name listed represents an individual who, despite violating the explicit command against intermarriage, chose repentance and obedience. The inclusion of such a detailed roster signifies the thoroughness of Ezra's reform; it was not a superficial declaration but a deeply personal, case-by-case resolution. This verse, and the longer list it belongs to, testifies to the corporate commitment to separate from anything that might defile their covenant relationship with God, illustrating that true revival involves specific acts of obedience, sometimes requiring costly personal sacrifice for the sake of communal holiness. The integrity of the people of God was being restored, one family at a time, establishing a crucial boundary against the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations.